Apparatus for treating oils



Feb. 7, 1928. 1,658,420

a. n. SIMS APPARATUS FOR TREATING OILS Original Filed June 7. 1921 W George 5/15.

Patented Feb. 7, 1928. l

UNITED STATES 1,658,420" PATENT OFFICE,

GEORGE D. SIMS, 01f INDEPENDENCE, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR T UNIVERSALOIL P3633- UCTS COMPANY. OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIEl, A GCFRPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

Hummus son 'rnssrmo ours.

Application filed June 17, 1921. Serial he. 478,249. Renewed Koren 1o, i927.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for treating oils and iefers more particularly to a means for designating the amount of liquid contained in the vaporizing 5 chamber whilethe reaction is taking place.

There is found to be a definite relation between the amount and character of the reaction inthe vaporizing chamber to the level of the liquid maintained therein. For this 30 reason, it is of importance that this level be maintained at a certain height and the only accurate means for ascertaining this height is a gauge in which the level may be kept at all times during the operation of the process. Difliculties have attended attempts at attaching a device of this sort to the vapor chamber as the high pressure and rapid. circulation of the vapors permitted no definite level to be maintained in the gauge. It has been found thatby cooling the liquid introduced to the gauge and taking the pressure from any portion of the system, the level may be very definitely registered at all times.

The single figure is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the apparatus.

Describing briefly the apparatus, and disclosing therewith a process carried on in the apparatus shown, the raw oil to be treated is introduced to the heating tubes 1 through the line 2, pump 3 and charging pipe 4.

lated by a valve 1%. A strong glass tube or reinforced cylindrical transparent tube 21 is connected to the condenser coil and communicates with the pressure relief pipe 22 in the top of the receiver by means of a connecting line 23. Valve regulates the amount I of uncondensed gases which are permitted to return to the line 23 and a valve permits the exhausting of the vapor ressure from the system through the relic pipe 26, by me us of which the vapor pressure on the sys tem may be accurately regulated. The-function of the return pressure pipe 23 is as follows: It equalizes the pressure on the liquid level gauge and supplies thereto a somewhat cooler vapor than that being generated in the vapor chamber. To connect the vapor chamber directly with the to of the liquid level gauge would be to invite ificulty h pors are in violent agitation an. much more active character than densable gases maintained over the dis: body in the receiver. There may he s difference in the vapor pressure on the re ceiver and on the vapor chamber and this in turn may afiect somewhat the liquid level in the gaugc. VVhenf this condition is once ascertained, it may be easily compensated for. By drawing oil the liquid from the vapor chamber and introducin it to a condenser coil, the liquid is coole to a much lower After beingraised too cracking temperature temperature and doesnot impose upon the 9 in the heating tubes which are mounted in" elements of the liquid level gauge the exthe furnace 5, the heated oil is passed to the.

vapor chamber 6 through thetransfer line 7 in which is interposed a valve 8. The heated oil is permitted to react in the vapor chain her, the vaporized portion phssing ofi throu 'h the vapor line 9 controlled by a thrott e valve 10 and rising through the dc hlegmator ll. wliere'it is subjected toa refluxing action. The uncondensed vapors pass ofi from the top of the dephlegmator through the line 12 to the water condenser 13 4 and is collected as distillate in the receiver 14:. The unvaporized portion in the vapor zone may be drawn oil intermittently or continuously through the residuum line 15 controlled by a valve 16 and may be directed to storage or to further treating processes. For registering the liquid level in the vapor chamber, a pipe is tapped into the vapor chamber near its bottom; this line communicstes with a condenser coil 18 mounted in the condenser box 19, the oil flow being regutremes of tern erature' that would be prohibitive were t ey subjected directly on the on gliuge. As explained, the liquid level main- ;tainedin the vapor chamber is of importance in the regulation of the character of the vapors and distillate which use over into the condensing apparatus an consequently, the functioning of an operative liquid level gauge sup lies important operating data to the contro and operation of the-process.

The drawofi line 17 for directing the liquid oil from the vaporizing ehamberto the gauge through the water condenser is extended into the chamber as a short standpipe so that the line will not become excessively burdened or clo'gg with carbon and prevent an accurate liqui level'reading on the gauge. i I claim as my invention: 7

1. In an apparatus for treating-oils, the combination with a reaction chamber adapted to receive oil heated to a conversion 110 combination temperature and in'which chamber said oil is maintained under a superatmospheric pressure, of a vapor outlet from the chamber, a condenser through which the discharged vapors-V are passed, a receiver in which the cooled condensate anduncondensed gases collect, means for indicating the level of the oilin said chamber comprising a gauge, a liquid oil discharge line from said chamber to said gauge, means interposed in said discharge line for cooling the oil beforeit is admitted to, the gauge, and means for introducing uncondensed gases from said receiver to maintain the oil in the gauge under the pressure maintained on the oil undergoing treatmentin the apparatus.

2. In an apparatus for treating oils, the with a reaction chamber adapted to receive oil heated to a conversion temperature and in which chamber the oil is maintained under super-atmospheric pressure, of a vapor outlet from,,said chamber, a condenser through which the discharged vapors are passed, a receiter in which the condensate and cooled uricondensed gases collect, means for indicating the level of the oil in said chamber comprising a gauge,

said gauge being connected at one end with said chamber and at the opposite end with said receiver, liquid oil being passed to the gauge from the chamber and cooled uncondensed gases being supplied to the gaiwe from said receiver whereby the oil in tie gauge is subjected to substantially the same pressure as thebil undergoing treatment in the apparatus.

In an apparatus for treating oil under superatmospheric pressure at high tempera;

.tures, the combination with an enlarged chamber in which a body of oil is adapted to be maintained under a superatinospherie pressure, of means for indicating the level of the oil in said chamber, comprisin a gauge, a liquid oil discharge line from said chamber communicating with said gauge, means interposed in said line for cooling the oil before it is admitted to the gauge, a vapor outlet from said chamber, condensing means connected with said vapor outlet for condensing the condensable constituents from the vapors passing through said vapor outlet, and means for admitting uncondensed gases. which ha re passed through said condensing means, to said gauge, to maintain the oil in the gauge under the same pressure as the pressure maintained on the oil in said enlarged chamber. 7

GEORGE D. SIMS. 

